3 Warm Kitchens That Mix Blue, Green and Wood
Look to this color palette to add inviting personality to the room
Since most people consider their kitchen the hub of the home these days, it makes sense to create an inviting, comfortable design. That feeling doesn’t always come easily with an all-white color scheme, which some people find a little cold and sterile if not done right. But if you incorporate rich woods and soothing blues and greens, you can’t help but establish a warm environment.
This color palette works well with copper, bronze and other popular finishes, so once you get it going, there’s almost no end to the color combinations you can use, resulting in a dynamic but cohesive look. Here, three kitchens show just how welcoming this palette can be.
This color palette works well with copper, bronze and other popular finishes, so once you get it going, there’s almost no end to the color combinations you can use, resulting in a dynamic but cohesive look. Here, three kitchens show just how welcoming this palette can be.
Other special features. Typhoon Green granite countertops. Handmade green tile on the backsplash helps tie in the green cabinetry to the rest of the kitchen. Solid butcher block forms an eating counter on the island and tops the cabinets below the hutches.
This mix of materials helps “break up the overall length of the kitchen so no run felt like it was too far,” Vanderhovel says. “And because the kitchen was pushing 24 feet in length, changing the color of the end [cabinets] and making them deeper helped make [the cabinetry] feel like a piece of furniture integrated in at the end of the kitchen. The cute little feet and glass display area also make the area look even more like furniture and helped it to not look so heavy.”
“Uh-oh” moment. “We had considered bumping into the garage to gain extra space,” Vanderhovel says. “One of the initial requests was to bring the laundry upstairs to the main floor. This is where I kinda ran wild and came up with an initial plan that was incredible and fit every request that I could think of from the homeowners. The modifications to the home that I made to make it all work were what we considered to be major surgery, and it made the project cost way more than what the homeowners and I could rationalize. I admit, it was my own fault. We took our list of wants and focused on the top priorities, and after a couple more design meetings, we finalized on what you see now. It was the right move in the end.”
Triena collection bar stools in dark cherry: Linon Home Decor Products; Inglenook mini pendants in Valiant Bronze: Quoizel; Revere Pewter wall paint: Benjamin Moore; contractor: MPH Construction
This mix of materials helps “break up the overall length of the kitchen so no run felt like it was too far,” Vanderhovel says. “And because the kitchen was pushing 24 feet in length, changing the color of the end [cabinets] and making them deeper helped make [the cabinetry] feel like a piece of furniture integrated in at the end of the kitchen. The cute little feet and glass display area also make the area look even more like furniture and helped it to not look so heavy.”
“Uh-oh” moment. “We had considered bumping into the garage to gain extra space,” Vanderhovel says. “One of the initial requests was to bring the laundry upstairs to the main floor. This is where I kinda ran wild and came up with an initial plan that was incredible and fit every request that I could think of from the homeowners. The modifications to the home that I made to make it all work were what we considered to be major surgery, and it made the project cost way more than what the homeowners and I could rationalize. I admit, it was my own fault. We took our list of wants and focused on the top priorities, and after a couple more design meetings, we finalized on what you see now. It was the right move in the end.”
Triena collection bar stools in dark cherry: Linon Home Decor Products; Inglenook mini pendants in Valiant Bronze: Quoizel; Revere Pewter wall paint: Benjamin Moore; contractor: MPH Construction
2. Homey Hacienda
Designer: Heather Poulliot of Lenton
Location: Lancaster, California
Size: 324 square feet (30 square meters); 18 by 18 square feet
Homeowners’ request. A timeless, durable kitchen with a handcrafted feel in line with the home’s Mexican ranch and hacienda style.
Color palette. Knotty alder cabinets with custom glazing. Green-blue island base (Reef Encounter by Dunn-Edwards Paints). Copper sink and ceiling panels. Turquoise backsplash tile. Tierra y Fuego’s Jalapa Talavera Mexican accent tile on the backsplash and ceiling light box, featuring a blue, yellow, green, red and white design.
Designer: Heather Poulliot of Lenton
Location: Lancaster, California
Size: 324 square feet (30 square meters); 18 by 18 square feet
Homeowners’ request. A timeless, durable kitchen with a handcrafted feel in line with the home’s Mexican ranch and hacienda style.
Color palette. Knotty alder cabinets with custom glazing. Green-blue island base (Reef Encounter by Dunn-Edwards Paints). Copper sink and ceiling panels. Turquoise backsplash tile. Tierra y Fuego’s Jalapa Talavera Mexican accent tile on the backsplash and ceiling light box, featuring a blue, yellow, green, red and white design.
“We spent a good amount of time researching material, ordering samples and doing our best to render them in a way that worked for the vision,” designer Heather Poulliot says. “Overall, we were able to make the space exactly the homeowners’ unique style, which isn’t one you can categorize from a textbook.”
Other special features. Saltillo tile floors. Handcrafted copper sink. Granite island countertop. Quartz perimeter countertops in a warm, neutral tone that doesn’t distract from the backsplash. Pressed-tin ceiling panels with a copper patina.
Designer tip. “One of our most out-of-the-box elements was the light box,” Poulliot says. “Previously this was a recessed ceiling fan surrounded by curved acrylic. Since it was raised and above the island, it felt like it needed to make a statement of its own. We needed the functionality of lighting over the island and liked the look of old-world beams. However, in the original renderings it just looked out of place adding the beam frame with pendants. We had used American Tin Ceilings panels on another job, and being able to have antiqued patina panels was a great option. They were also effective at reflecting light that was added to the top side of the beams. Adding the Talavera tiles was a wish-list [option] for our client and tied it all together perfectly.”
“Uh-oh” moment. “Our light box was for sure that moment,” Poulliot says. “I originally designed it with a nine-pattern grid, but the beams just looked small. The four-pattern worked out better, but that affected the light spacing. With LED uplighting in the beams, we had to figure out a solution. We also had to work with the pattern in our tin ceiling. At one point, we had two people standing on the island with blue tape and paper plates on strings to make sure it would all work as designed.”
Designer tip. “One of our most out-of-the-box elements was the light box,” Poulliot says. “Previously this was a recessed ceiling fan surrounded by curved acrylic. Since it was raised and above the island, it felt like it needed to make a statement of its own. We needed the functionality of lighting over the island and liked the look of old-world beams. However, in the original renderings it just looked out of place adding the beam frame with pendants. We had used American Tin Ceilings panels on another job, and being able to have antiqued patina panels was a great option. They were also effective at reflecting light that was added to the top side of the beams. Adding the Talavera tiles was a wish-list [option] for our client and tied it all together perfectly.”
“Uh-oh” moment. “Our light box was for sure that moment,” Poulliot says. “I originally designed it with a nine-pattern grid, but the beams just looked small. The four-pattern worked out better, but that affected the light spacing. With LED uplighting in the beams, we had to figure out a solution. We also had to work with the pattern in our tin ceiling. At one point, we had two people standing on the island with blue tape and paper plates on strings to make sure it would all work as designed.”
3. Fine Farmhouse
Designer: Alexandra Ford of Cummings Architects
Location: Lynnfield, Massachusetts
Size: 500 square feet (46 square meters); 20 by 25 feet
Homeowners’ request. A fresh and casual take on a historic farmhouse for a couple and their four young children. “To them, the kitchen is a place to hang out, help the kids with homework and host gatherings,” says designer Alexandra Ford, who used Houzz photos and ideabooks to collaborate with her clients on the vision for this kitchen. “The space had to feel comfortable and open.”
Color palette. Dark blue perimeter cabinets (Downpour Blue by Benjamin Moore). Light blue island base (Little Falls by Benjamin Moore). Salvaged-oak island countertop. Exposed ceiling joists and salvaged-wood posts on the sink island. “The homeowners love pops of color and definitely love the color blue,” Ford says. “I went with a rich, inky blue on the perimeter cabinetry and a lighter blue on the accent island and on the window sashes and trim to tie it all together. Additional pops of color were brought in with the decor — place mats, dishes, etc.”
Designer: Alexandra Ford of Cummings Architects
Location: Lynnfield, Massachusetts
Size: 500 square feet (46 square meters); 20 by 25 feet
Homeowners’ request. A fresh and casual take on a historic farmhouse for a couple and their four young children. “To them, the kitchen is a place to hang out, help the kids with homework and host gatherings,” says designer Alexandra Ford, who used Houzz photos and ideabooks to collaborate with her clients on the vision for this kitchen. “The space had to feel comfortable and open.”
Color palette. Dark blue perimeter cabinets (Downpour Blue by Benjamin Moore). Light blue island base (Little Falls by Benjamin Moore). Salvaged-oak island countertop. Exposed ceiling joists and salvaged-wood posts on the sink island. “The homeowners love pops of color and definitely love the color blue,” Ford says. “I went with a rich, inky blue on the perimeter cabinetry and a lighter blue on the accent island and on the window sashes and trim to tie it all together. Additional pops of color were brought in with the decor — place mats, dishes, etc.”
Other special features. Taj Mahal quartzite in a honed finish for the perimeter countertops. Roman shades so the trim wouldn’t be covered up. Turned-wood furniture-style legs on the range island. Brick-lined fireplace and hearth. Mix of antique brass and oil-rubbed-bronze finishes.
“Uh-oh” moment. “One issue with this kitchen was the number of windows in the room, which meant we couldn’t have upper cabinets without it looking choppy,” Ford says. “We solved that by having full-height pantry cabinets in between windows [not shown]. The other issue was that the homeowners wanted ample refrigerator and freezer space, but we didn’t have the width.” The solution: a separate full-height refrigerator and freezer. The fridge is next to the low cabinet to the left of the fireplace, and the freezer is next to the low cabinet on the fireplace’s right. “They’re paneled, so they look like the rest of the full-height pantries in the space,” Ford says.
More on Houzz
14 Bright Ideas for Adding a Little Color to Your Kitchen
Get kitchen design ideas
Find kitchen designers in your area
Shop for kitchen and dining furniture
“Uh-oh” moment. “One issue with this kitchen was the number of windows in the room, which meant we couldn’t have upper cabinets without it looking choppy,” Ford says. “We solved that by having full-height pantry cabinets in between windows [not shown]. The other issue was that the homeowners wanted ample refrigerator and freezer space, but we didn’t have the width.” The solution: a separate full-height refrigerator and freezer. The fridge is next to the low cabinet to the left of the fireplace, and the freezer is next to the low cabinet on the fireplace’s right. “They’re paneled, so they look like the rest of the full-height pantries in the space,” Ford says.
More on Houzz
14 Bright Ideas for Adding a Little Color to Your Kitchen
Get kitchen design ideas
Find kitchen designers in your area
Shop for kitchen and dining furniture
Designer: Jason Vanderhovel of Dream Kitchens
Location: Farmington Hills, Michigan
Size: 212 square feet (20 square meters); 23½ by 9 feet
Homeowners’ request. Remove a wall between the kitchen and living room to open up the floor plan. “We were going with a Craftsman style for the home, and the warm tones that continued through the home in the trim fit perfectly,” designer Jason Vanderhovel says. “We added some fun with the green to bring a little more life to the space.”
Color palette. A sage green island and large hutches join alder wood cabinets. Small bits of blue come from antique glass inside the hutches, as well as from the island pendants lights and a nearby rug.
“Our color palette kind of fell into our laps on this project,” Vanderhovel says. “The homeowners acknowledged that white kitchens can be quite beautiful but knew it wasn’t right for them. The trim for this home was already a nice warm tone, so we took that as our base and matched our stain to that. The right green took a little longer to figure out, but we knew we needed something warm and mellow without being too dark or too yellow-y. After that, we knew we wanted a lighter floor, and natural hickory fit perfectly with our Craftsman direction. The perimeter cabinets are alder wood in Fireside stain with a sage island by our supplier, Holiday Kitchens.”
Find a kitchen designer to help you develop a similar color palette